Valve



'June 29, 1.937. K. B. KILB'QRN' 2,085,369l

VALVE Filed sept. 15, 1954 k Z IN INVENTOR ATTO RNEYS Patented June 29, 1937 1. UNITED `STATES PATENT OFFICE VALVE Karl B. Kilborn,A Akron, Ohio, assignor to Seiberling Latex Products Company, Akron, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application September 13, 1934, Serial No. 743,811

6 Claims. (Cl. 273-65) This invention relates to an improvement in valve structures adapted to retain air or other fluid within hollow, inflatable articles, and more particularly rubber articles such as playing ball bladders and the like.

Heretofore it has been the practice to provide bladders and similar articles With hollow tubes or extensions through which air or other suitable mediums could be introduced for iniiating the article, and to prevent escape of the medium after inflation this tube was bent over upon itself and secured with a rubber band or string. Such a fasteninghad numerous disadvantages, among which were that leakage occurred readily, the

bent-over` tube formed a projection or hump undesirable when the article was used-and it necessitated lacing after inflation so that it was impossible to obtaina good joint.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide a valve structure of the type referred to which is contained Within the bladder or similar article to be inflated, thereby overcoming the aforementioned objections.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve structure which is simple in construction, efficient in operation and inexpensive to manufacture` I I With the objects aboveindicated 'and other objects hereinafter explained in view, my invention consists in the construction and combination of elements hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawing, E

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of a valve vstructure embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View of a modifled form of valve structure embodying the present invention and having a transverse section the same as that shown in Figure 2.

In the drawing, the preferred construction of a valve embodying the present invention is shown which comprises a bladder I preferably of rubber or` other suitable elastic material of hollow formation and which is adapted to be inflated with any suitable medium suchY as air. At one portion the bladder I0 has a circular extension II of substantially rigid rubber material projecting inwardly any desirable distance which is preferably formed integral therewith. On the outer side and concentric with the extension is a circular projection I2 also formed integral therewith and for a purpose to be later described.

The extension II has an axial bore I3, the inner portion of which is ared outwardly to provide a valve seat I4, while the opposite end communicates with an axial opening I5 provided in the outer end, and projection I2 which is adapted to receive the end I6 of an inating device (not shown). This opening I5 may be made by piercmunicating grooves are shown, it should be understood that a greater or lesser number may be employed Without affecting the operation and desired results.

A cup-shaped rubber member I9 is positioned upon the inner end of the extension I I and has a circumferential bead 20 at its open end which fits within a circumferential groove 2| provided in the outer wall of the extension I0 adjacent to the bladder but slightly spaced therefrom so as not to interferewith or obstruct the ends of the grooves I'I. To retain the cup-shaped member I9 in place upon the extension II a rubber band. string or metal clip 22 may be engaged around the member I9 beneath the bead 20 so as to prevent accidental disengagement.

A valve member 23 of rubber is provided upon the inner surface of the cup-shaped member I 9 and hasv a formation or taper complementary to the flared valve seat I4 with which it is adapted to engage, but which may be easily removed from its seat to permit inflation of the bladder and to prevent the escapement of air from within the bladder. The cup-shaped member I9 is preferably of slightly smaller diameter than the diameter of the extension II so that the former must be stretched in placing the same over the extension in order to insure a tight fit.

These bladders are usually employed inside of a covering such as indicated by 24 and in the present instance the covering has an opening 25 which receives the extension I2 to maintain the bladder in proper position for iniiating. It should be understood, however, that the valve structure embodying the present invention may be built directly into the covering lif the latter is made of a suitable inflatable material. When the circular extension II is made integral with the bladder as shown in Figure l, the bladder is formed in section and suitably secured together in any well-known manner.

Assuming the various parts to be in the relation shown in Figure 1, the bladder III may be iniiated by inserting the end I6 of an inflating device through the opening I5 to a position indicated by the dotted lines. The air may then be introduced through the end I6 and the pressure will cause the valve 23 to be moved out ofv communicating grooves I1 to the interior of the bladder. Upon shutting off the flow Vof air from the inating device, the built-up pressure in the bladder exerts a force upon the end of the cupshaped member I9, causing the valve 23 to move into engagement with the valve seat I4 and thus preventing any outflow of air from within the bladderI through the grooves I'I and I8, the valve member 23 closing the adjacent ends of the vgrooves I8. As the pressure within the bladder maintains the valve 23 in continual engagement with its valve seat I4, there is no chance for the air to escape and consequently the bladder will remain iniiated indefinitely.

To deflate the bladder, it is only necessary to employ a match stem or similar implement inwherein it would be difficult to produce an in- -tegral construction as shown in Figure 1.

The various elements, however, are identical with those of Figure 1, the main difference being in the provision of a circular laterally extending flange 26 formed integral with the upper portion of the extension II. This flange is preferably of rubber and relatively thin, having a tapered outer edge 21. The flange is inserted between the innersurface of the outer casing' 24 and the outer surface. of the bladder I0 and may besecured to either or both by the use of a suitable adhesive'or cement. The bladder is provided with an opening 28 within which the extension II is disposed. It will be-understood that to inflate and deflate they bladder shown in Figure l3, the same procedure is followed as heretofore explained in yconnection Ofl course it should be understood that different materials may be employed in producing the valve structure and that the valve structure' is capable of use in numerous other instances.

While I have described the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, it is to be understood that I am not to be limited thereto as changes medium may flow in inflating and de'ating the inflatable article, and a cup-shaped member detachably secured to said member and having a portion yieldably engageable with said valve seat for controlling the ow of medium through said bore and groove.

2. A valve structure for inflatable articles comprising a substantially rigid rubber member sewith the preferred construction shown in Figure cured to the inflatable article and extending inwardly thereof, said member having a central bore terminating short of the outer end thereof and a smaller opening connecting the bore with the atmosphere and a passageway connecting the inner end of said bore with the interior of the inflatable article, and an elastic cup-shapedv l member enclosing the inner end of said rubber member and having its open end secured to said rubber member, said cup-shaped mem-l ber vhaving' a portion yieldably engageable with 4an elastic cup-shaped member having a circular side wall enclosing the inner end of said'rubber member and having its open end 'secured to said rubber member, said cup-shaped member having a bottom portion yieldably engageable with the inner end of said rubber member for controlling the flow of medium through said passageway. l

4. A valve structure for inflatable articles comprising a member secured to the inatable article and extending inwardly thereof, said member having a central bore communicating with an inlet opening at one end and having a ilared portion at the opposite end to'provide a valve seat, said member being further provided with a plurality of radially and longitudinally extending grooves communicating with said bore and with the interiorvof the inflatable article whereby a fluid medium may flow in iniiating and deating the inflatable article, and means connected to said member and having a cooperating valve portion yieldably engageable with said Valve seat for controlling the flow of medium thereby. p

5. A valve structure 'for inflatablearticles comprising a member secured to the inflatable article and extending inwardly thereof, said member having `a fluid medium passageway therethrough, said member" being further provided with at least one radiallyand longitudinally extending groove','communicating with said passageway and with the interior of the inflatable article, and means Aconnected to said member and having a portion movable to open and close said passagewaytofcontrol the flow of fluid therethrough. i

6. 'A valve structure for inflatable articles comprising a member secured to the inflatable article and extending inwardly thereof, said member having a fluid medium passageway therethrough, said member being further provided on its outer surface with at least one groove communicatingV with said passageway and with the interior of the inflatable article, and means connected to said member and having ak portion movable to open and close said passageway and said groove to control the flow of fluid therethrough.

KARL B. KILBORN. 

